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Once deemed just a Greek myth, the tale of King Midas, whose touch turned everything to gold, became startlingly real as I stood before his tomb...
Discovering Turkey: A Journey to the Tomb of King Midas in the Kingdom of Phrygia
Intrigued by the Greek legend of King Midas, whose touch turned all to gold, and his fateful ears cursed by Apollo, I felt compelled to explore his tomb during an autumnal adventure through Turkey.
Gordium, once the capital of Phrygia, now lies in Yassihüyük, approximately 94km southwest of the capital Ankara. It serves as a stopover for many travelers, especially those eager to delve into the legendary history of Anatolia.
Stepping into the Gordion Museum, a friendly attendant greeted visitors with a warm smile. For 5 lira (about 40,000 dong), one can journey back in time to explore the realm of Phrygia.
Standing before the golden-hued hill, I couldn't help but wonder what lay inside the tomb. This is the largest tomb in Gordium, towering at 50m high and with a diameter of approximately 300m.
Following the stone-paved path that winds through the hill and into the tunnel, I peered through the wooden barriers, hoping to catch a glimpse through the openings. Yet, with its modest height, my hopes were left unfulfilled.
There was a slight disappointment as I had expected a grandiose tomb akin to those of the Egyptian Pharaohs, or at least some signs of gold as in the legends. But the simplicity of it all ultimately allowed me to find contentment in the ancient Greek myth.
When archaeologists uncovered the tomb, they found a man around 60 - 65 years old lying on a dyed fabric of purple and sky blue, colors associated with ancient royal attire in the Near East, in an open coffin. The cause of death was deemed natural.
Alongside him were 157 vessels made of bronze of various sizes, and ceramic jars, often used for the final farewell feast before burial.
Typically, a deceased king was buried with food and drink akin to those served during lavish banquets held in their reign, of course, including wine.
In Homer's epic, the Iliad, Phrygia is renowned for its wine and the formidable Phrygian horsemen, known for their bravery in battle. Hence, it's widely believed that the vessels found in the tomb were used for storing wine.
However, despite the historical speculations, archaeologists are still uncertain whether this is indeed the tomb of King Midas as in the legend.
The hypothesis leans towards the possibility that this is the tomb of Midas's father, King Gordius – renowned for the Gordian Knot myth, famously undone by Alexander the Great, who later became the emperor dominating all of Asia as foretold.
So, it came as no surprise to see a stone relief of a half-man half-horse warrior next to the inscription at the Gordion Museum – depicting Alexander the Great and the Gordian Knot.
But whoever lies eternally beneath that autumn-kissed hill, as long as it's a king, I wouldn't have missed visiting this significant historical site of ancient Phrygia.
Inside the Gordion Museum, numerous artifacts unearthed from the tomb are displayed. There are many ceramic and bronze water vessels dating back to the late 8th century BCE, along with surviving sculptures from the Hellenistic period.
Leaving Gordion, I pondered how extravagant the final feast before the burial of the illustrious king of Phrygia must have been.
As per Youth
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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook
MytourSeptember 16, 2016
